This 160.5-mile drive from Decatur to Gulfport, Mississippi, is a manageable one-day road trip taking approximately 3 hours and 29 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's an economical journey through the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes US 49 and Highway 15, with a significant portion on the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, making it a highway-focused experience. Given its relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a single-day adventure, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. This straightforward drive offers a practical way to travel between these two Mississippi locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.2 miles from Decatur, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
62.4 mi
1h 17m
Highway 15
58.2 mi
1h 26m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
34.8 mi
37m
US 98
3.2 mi
4m
North 16th Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
West Broad Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 62.4 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, MS and Gulfport, MS.
1
Start on West Broad Street
474 ft·22 sec·West Broad Street
2
Turn right onto MS 15
58 mi·1 hr 26 min·Highway 15
3
Continue on MS 15
0.9 mi·1 min·North 16th Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Use the slight right / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 59
35 mi·37 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·US 98
Toward US 98 East: Lucedale, MobileUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Multi Purpose Center, HattiesburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 49
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 49
4.5 mi·7 min·US 49
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 49
215 ft·16 sec·25th Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
US 49
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3 hour and 29-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential traffic, especially as you approach Gulfport. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. The longest stretch without a break is 62.4 miles on US 49, so plan your fuel and restroom needs around that. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway driving can consume fuel steadily; the estimated $24 cost is a good baseline. This route is efficient, so you can easily complete it in a single day, arriving in Gulfport with plenty of time to spare.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.2 miles from Decatur, MS, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 35 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gulfport, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Decatur, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Decatur, MS
This is one driving day of about 160.5 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Decatur, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 49 for about 62.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 59.2 and 98 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right / right lanes.
7
94.4 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 98
Take the exit onto US 98 toward US 98 East: Lucedale, Mobile
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 98 East: Lucedale, Mobile
7
97.6 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf Coast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gu...
9
97.9 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Multi Purpose Center, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Multi Purpose Center, Hattiesburg
6
98 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|US 49
Turn right onto US 49
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.24 one way
$48.48 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.61
$53.22
premium
$4.56
$28.81
$57.62
diesel
$5.61
$35.44
$70.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.2
0
$16.85
$7.70
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
EV Truck/SUV
64.2
0
$22.47
$10.27
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Decatur, MS
Late night
in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gulfport, MS
Late night
in Gulfport on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 77% of this 160.5-mile journey. You'll spend a good amount of time on US 49, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 62.4 miles. While the route incorporates US 49 and Highway 15, the inclusion of the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway suggests a predominantly high-speed road character. This means you'll likely experience a consistent pace for much of the trip, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous detours off the main thoroughfares. The drive progresses with a steady rhythm dictated by the highway system.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.4 mi on US 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and Highway 15. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 59.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 160.5 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 59.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.4 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Decatur, MS and Gulfport, MS, road signs point toward Mobile, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Multi Purpose Center and Hattiesburg.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 160.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.4 miles on US 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gulfport, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 59.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.4 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Gulfport, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
